There has been a reduction in the number of all and first admissions to psychiatric units and hospitals, according to the Health Research Board (HRB). However, there were 20,213 discharges from and 159 deaths in psychiatric units and hospitals in 2008.

The HRB found that in terms of diagnosis of depressive disorders, schizophrenia and alcoholic disorders accounted for 60 per cent of all admissions, with depressive disorders accounting for almost one in three.